Safety switch and fuse box



July 23, 1935. w. M. MITCHELL SAFETY SWITCH AND FUSE BOX Filed March 29,193 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR WzZZzam JLWiZOhGDZ/ ATTORNEYS July 23,1935. w MITCHELL 2,009

SAFETY SWITCH AND FUSE BOX Filed March 29, 1934 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ii/?IIII I INVENTOR WiTNESSES ZUZZZz'amJ/ffllifcheil W BY I a //7 #41KTTORNE ES Patented July 23, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE SAFETYSWITCH AND FUSE BOX William M. Mitchell, Brooklyn, N. Y., assigncr ofone-half to John H. Schwab, New York, N. Y.

Application March 29, 1934, Serial No. 718616 3 Claims.

5 in dwellings or other houses where the electric current is to be paidfor at a certain rate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch and fuse boxwhich is interposed between the main supply line and the meter where themeter is distributing current to the place of use, the structure beingsuch that all parts of the wire leading from the supply busesto themeter are covered.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a combinedswitch and fuse box where in the desired number of fuses are interposedin a circuit, and wherein these fuses are mounted on a rotatable switchmember, whereby when the switch member is in one position currentwillfiow through the fuses, and when in another position current isturned-off from the fuses and the circuit remains open.

Referring to the accompanying drawings- Figure l is an elevationshowinga meter, a combined switch and fuse box embodying the invention,and certain associated'parts including the feed bus wires which feed thecurrent to the meter;

Figure 2 is a front view of the combined switch and fuse box shown inFigure l, the front plate being removed so as to illustate the positionof the Wiring leading to the fuse box;

Figure 3 is a section through Figure 6 approximately on the line 3--3;

Figure l is a transverse sectional View through Figure 1 on the line4-4, the same being on an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing a modifiedconstruction wherein the fuse boxes are arranged interiorly of thecasing;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through Figure 1 on the line 8-45;the same being on an enlarged scale;

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numeral, I indicates asupporting board which is adapted to be secured to a wall orotherdesired place. On this board the combined switch and fuse box 2 ismounted. The combined switch and fuse box is provided with an outsideframe 3 on which the meter 4 is provided, said meter being of any wellknown kind now in common use. In dwellings and elsewhere meters similarto the one shown in Figure 1 are used to measure the amount of currentused by the consumer. Various forms of connecting Wires have been usedheretofore and are still being used for connecting the supply bus wiresto the meter, and then the meter to the lights and other points wherecurrent is used. Any current passing through the meter will be measuredand will be paid for. However,

in some instances unscrupulous persons have tapped the wires between thebus wires and the meter and have stolen current in this manner,particularly where large amounts of current is to be used, for instance,when it is desired to use an electr'c driven sanding machine for sandingfloors. This practice naturally deprives the company supplying theelectricity of proper return for their investment.

In the present invention the combined switch and fuse box has beenprovided to reduce to a minimiun the chance of tapping the various wiresto secure current in an unauthorized manner. structure shown, forinstance, in Figure l l. that when in one position current will flowthrough tl" meter to lamps or other points where current used, but ifthe parts are turned to a second position current is turned off from themeter and consequently no current may be secured. This is done where ahouse is to be vacated or is vacant and it is desired to leave the meterin place.

As shown in Figure l the wires of the switch and fuse box are connectedto supply bus wires 5 and G by suitable lead in wires 1 and 8 solderedor otherwise electrically connected with reciprocating contacts 9 andI8. It will be observed that the bus wires 5 and 6 are positioned in aprotecting metal tube H, and a tubular connection It protects the leadin wires 1 and 8 so that no one can possibly tap these wires and securecurrent in an unauthorized way. As all of the contact-s 9 and it areidentical a description of one will apply to all. As shown in Figure 3the contact I 6 is provided with a shoulder l3 which is acted on by aspring I5. which spring also acts on the retaining plate 14. This causesthe large contact end lb of the contact rod iii to be urged inwardlycontinually and, consequently, will rest firmly on the outer surface I!of the switch body L:

E8. The contact ii! is arranged at the lower part of the device as shownin Figure 3, while a pair of similar contacts l9 are arranged at theupper part, said contacts I 9 being connected by suitable wires in anydesired manner to the meter =3 so that current passing through the meterwill also pass through the wires 25 and 2| arranged in the cable 22.Wires 2G and 2! lead to the various cutlets, for instance, lamps in thehouse in which the device is mounted. All current passing to thewires UCII are in the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6 all of the contactsare engaging their respective contact plates, but when the switch bodyiii has been turned a short distance the parts may assume the positionshown in Figure 3, whereupon all of the contacts are out of engagementwith their contact plates and, consequently, the circuit is open so thatno current will pass through the meter.

As illustrated in Figure 2 the wires 2? and 28 are connected to therespective contact plates 23 and 2d and to one of the terminals of therespective fuse boxes 2t and Wires 3! and 32 are connected to theopposite terminal of the fuse boxes and to the respective plates 25 and2%. It will thus be secn that all current is passing in one directionthrough one fuse box and in the opposite direction through the otherfuse box.

In order to prevent access to the wires 29 32 inclusive, there isprovided a cover plate 33 and associated parts whereby no access can behad to the wires just mentioned and other parts until the lock ti l hasbeen unlocked and the switch body 38 removed, After the lock 3 has beenoperated and the bolt 35 thereof retracted, the

switch body 58 may be rotated, andas it is ro- V tated in, counterclockwise direction the retaining bolt 36-willbe unscrewed through thethreaded aperture 3?. After this has been done the switch body maybeeasily removed and access had to any'point. I

It will'be notedjthat the cover plate 33 is. provided with internalthreaded extensions 38 into bolt is in'the opening ii the parts areinoperative position and current is allowed to fiow, but when the switchbody is rotated to the right, as shown in Figure 1, until the bolt 35moves into the opening 52, current will not flow through the switch orthe meter. 'The fuse boxes 29 and 38 may be' the usual fuse boxesnow incommon use and may be connected in any desired way with wires 27?,

28, Si and 32 byscrews or otherwise. These fuse boxes are arranged insuitable sockets in the switch body' le as shown in Figure 4, so thatthe only part that will project beyond, the cover 33 will be the metalcovering rings'on the ends of the fuse members.

By forming the various parts as described there is presented a switchwhereby the company supplying the current may turn the same oif and lockthe parts so that no current can be turned on except by an authorizedperson. -Also when the current is turned on there is absolutely no plugstherein, but this would throw the whole load on the wires connected tothe screw plugs and present a more or less dangerous construction, sothat for practical purposes there are no switch body i8.

places whereby the supply wires may be tapped.

Referring to Figure 5 the same numerals will be used as in the preferredform except where the parts are modified. Figure 5 shows a constructionsimilar to Figure 4 except that the fuse boxes 29 and Sii are arrangedinteriorly of the The various wires 2i, 28, and 32 are naturally on theopposite side of the body so that the covering plate 33 will have noopenings therein except where the members 38 fit and where the lock ispositioned. It will therefore be seen that when this form of theinvention is used there is absolutely no place where current may betaken from the switch or supply wires except through the meter 4. In theconstruction shown in Figure 1 all parts are protected except where thefuse boxes are positioned, thus making it somewhat difficult to stealelectricity and yet have the various lamps and other electrical devicesproperly supplied with current. However, when the form shown in Figure 5is used no current can be secured except what passes through the meter iunless some-part of the device is broken.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described including a switch having a pairof fuse boxes, said switch comprising a casing having an annular socket,a disc shaped switch body rotatably fitted into said socket, a journalmember having one end countersunk in said body, and the other endscrewed into the back of said body, said body having a pair of socketsat spaced points, a lock carried by said body having a bolt adapted to xbe thrust into either of said sockets, the lock in.

the body being in either of two positions, and a pair of switchstructures arranged at diametrically opposite sides of said body, partof said switch structure being'carried by the body and part by thecasing, said switch structures being in functioning position when saidbolt is in one of said sockets, and in nonfunctioning Position,

when the bolt is in the other socket, and electrical conductorsconnecting the respective switch structures, said conductors including afusebox in each conductor.

2. A device of the character described including a switch structure,said structure having a casing and a rotatable switch body, a pairofspaced contacts on diametrically opposite sides of said body, conductorscarried by. said body and forming part of two circuits, said conductorsbeing connected at the respective'ends to certain of said contactplates, a fuse arranged in each of said conductors, means forrotatably'mounting said body in said casing, and means for locking saidbody in either of two positions.

3. In a devicev of the character described a switch having a casingformed with a central bore having a pair of spaced radial sockets, aswitch body pcsitioned in said bore and carrying contactplates, contactscarried by said casing, said body being rotatable so as to move saidplates into and out of engagement with said contacts, a lock carried bysaid body provided with a bolt adapted to be inserted into either ofsaid sockets for locking said body in a position with the contact platesin or out of engagement with said contacts, and a pair of conductorsconnected to,

saidrespective plates, said conductors being embedded in said body witha fuse interposed in a

